With only two wins each from six matches apiece, the Kings XI Punjab and the Gujarat Lions are both heading into must-win games as the VIVIO IPL 2017 approaches the half-way mark. The teams will be looking to pull up their socks and make quick amends to stay in the race for the playoffs. The Glenn Maxwell-led team are ahead on the hosts in the points table on the basis of the net run rate, but they will look to arrest the four-match losing streak. The Suresh Raina-led team, however, come into the match riding on the confidence of a win against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. Speaking about the forthcoming match on the afternoon of 23rd April, KXIP’s batting coach, J Arun Kumar said, “We are not looking at Gujarat Lions as a team as such, but we certainly need to move up in the points table. No doubt about that. Assessing both the teams, you see the batting department of both the teams are doing well; the Lions’ batting has come on well, and so is ours. It'll be whichever team bats well tomorrow and holds its line in bowling, will take the win.” While KXIP looks to end the losing streak, they need the team to click as a unit. “We have seen some individual brilliance. We have seen an astonishing innings from Manan (Vohra) and of course Hashim (Amla). But it's very important to play as a team. It's a habit in the end, winning or losing. If we start winning, which we are sure we will now, we will get back into the rhythm. If we get our ducks in the row before the start of the game, I think things will fall in place,” he said. Asked if the team’s bowling was a concern, he said, “You can't say that. We have had patches where we have bowled really well and we have to just get it together.” “Sometimes we are bowling well and the batsmen haven't done so well. They (bowlers) have got good hearts. We have bowled well in two-three games, and batted well in two-three games. We need to get it together and complement each other. It's a matter of time. Yes of course, we need to contain a few runs to help the batters,” J Arun Kumar added. “We all know that we have the Indian bowling attack, the fast bowling attack and the spinners. Whoever gets the opportunity has to deliver. We have done that in patches but I think if we can be more consistent – hit the good areas and wait for the batsmen to make mistakes – we will reap the fruit,” he went on to elaborate while speaking about the team’s performance. Speaking about the fitness and availability of players, he said, “Manan is alright and there are no other fitness concerns.” While KXIP’s batting could be further strengthened with the fit again Manan Vohra, one of the key players for KXIP, David Miller is yet to fire. Speaking about the swashbuckling batsman’s run in the middle, the batting coach said, “We all know what good a batsman he is. (It is) just a matter of him getting set in for a few balls, and once he starts seeing them, if he just plays freely.... The best we have seen David Miller is when he is attacking. So if he can attack, we will see him scoring a lot of runs. We try and give the option to the batsman wherever he is comfortable and ready to play. We tried him at No. 3 but it didn't click. But David's a guy at any number if he plays a few balls; if he gets his eye in, (then) I think he will destroy the attack.” Speaking about the conditions for the match against GL, he said, “Today the wicket looked a bit dry. But I am sure they will water it a bit. We have played a lot of night games but we will have to decide whether to bat or chase. That's a decision we will take tomorrow after looking at the wicket.”